For me the question for this cuvée is never, “ is it good?”. The question is , “how good is it?” Not as powerful as other vintages but it makes up for it with balance and complexity. I am sure this will age but it is in a very good drinking window right now. — 5 months ago
I had seen this bottle on the wine list (for only around €75) for a while but been worried it might be past its peak. But there is nothing to be afraid of here. Just an excellent example of how well quality old vine Californian Zin-blends can age in the skilful hands of the team at Ridge. Large ripe berries, spice, orange peel, dark chocolate, liquorice and charcuteries. Flavourful, expressive and balanced. Very enjoyable. — 7 months ago
Our last bottle in London before we move back! Thank you to my team for the awesome gift!
1hr+ decant. Red color with brownish orange edges. Nose contains cedar, graphite, and green elements. Complex wine that has a nice balance of tannins and depth. Very lively and probably at the perfect drinking age. Long finish. Definitely a top echelon wine! — 3 years ago
Medium to light ruby , wide ruby garnet rim . Spiced red cherries , with raspberry jam , menthol , grafite , liquorice touches. On the palate juicy spiced sweet red fruits with those liquorice notes and dried herbs. Good balancing acidity and velvety but grippy tannins and slightly noticeable alcohol. Good length with a liquorice, cherry tinged finish. Enjoyable now though will age well over the next 10 years or so . — 3 months ago
Let's go out with a bang!
Byeee 2023!
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Strong fruity nose, bold and fruit forward.
Full bodied and dry on the palate, with medium acidity.
Showing blueberries, blackberries, black currants, black cherries, raisins, dried fruits, figs, dark chocolates, cedar, coffee, vanilla, earth, spices, pencil lead, eucalyptus, cola, light mint, bell pepper, herbs and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous Napa Valley Bordeaux blend. Very fruity on the palate with great complexity and mouthfeel.
This 14 year old feels and drinks like a young wine. Rich and extracted. Opulent and very complex already.
Fruit forward with lots of earth and green notes. Very interesting stuff. Feels like a blend of Napa Cabernet and Left Bank bordeaux.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of air time, when tannins come in and show more structure. After 2 hours of airtime the tannins become very grippy.
I tried the 2001 vintage a few years ago, and it was so much better. A good quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 20+ years.
Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Spectator 96 points.
A great wine to share with friends and talk about.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$1000. — 4 months ago
Lafite Rothchild and Harlin Estate side by side tasting. Both are 2008 vintages
Lafite Rothchild - A magenta color. Initial aromas of dark black cherry and currants with beautiful floral and subtle vanilla notes. Herbaceous and leather secondary notes. Taste - blue-black fruit, licorice and cedar/tar coat the palate followed by crushed rock, minerals and mocha giving it dry med-long finish. 9.3 rating
Harlin Estate - color is a dark garnet. Nose - notes are restrained and muted. Dark fruits, perfume and dark chocolate followed by notes of graphite and planting soil. Taste - creamy and coats the palate with notes of dark fruits, chocolate espresso, pencil lead and cedar with a long dry finish. Tannins are still present giving the wine more time to age. 9.3 rating
— 9 months ago
Great color in the decanter... medium gold with an enticing perfume. Notes of sweet Meyer lemon, apricot, gravel stone, tan clay, some mint, a little ginger and some sweet marzipan. Has an exotic and slightly musty (desirable) funk. Huge weight with great fruit and solid acidity in the mouth. Decanted for 2 hours before drinking. Awesome juice! If you Google “why should I age white burgundy?”, an image of this 35 year old bottle should be shown... — 3 years ago
Medium deep copper tinged . Basically still , with a slight spritz notable on the palate. Nicely fruited still quite rich and decadent . Candied peel with slight caramel note , brioche . On the palate still fills out very well with good fresh acidity cutting the richness of the yellow fruits. Good length and balance for a wine of this age. This needs drinking won’t improve , but is still surprisingly enjoyable. — 4 months ago
Probably my favorite and, in my mind, the most consistent Spanish wine out there. A deep dark plum color in the glass. The nose absolutely shines with cedar and plenty of spice. There’s a bit of smoke here along with cherry cola and a little more spice. Dried herbs and chocolate round things out.
A preponderance of Tempranillo with a nice chunk of Garnacha in the blend. Obviously still so young but readily approachable and enjoyable now. The extended aging makes a world of difference with this wine vintage in and vintage out. Rich and full of personality, this is a beautiful wine that’s just going to continue to grow with age. — 8 months ago
One of the most profound clarets I have ever tasted. This is why we age Bordeaux! At 25 years old, this is elegant, poised, complex, aromatic—simply magnificent. 10.0 — 9 months ago
Good but needs more time to age — 3 years ago
Sipping Fine Wine
Blend of mostly Tempranillo with about equal amounts of Garnacho, Graciano and Manzuelo, deep Ruby with a graceful bouquet of berry fruits, cigar box spice with fresh earthy tones, a traditional Rioja, still reticent. On the silky smooth palate, elegant with layers of flavors of ripe blackberry and cherry, tobacco, smoky cedar, dark fruit, vanilla spice, very well balanced with fine soft tannins and a clean structure ending with a nice long chalky earthy character. Delicious! Still has room to age. — 3 months ago